Injured troops denied proper compensation, says ex-PM

Sir John Major has accused the Government of failing British troops

12 April 2012

Britain is failing in its obligations to soldiers wounded in the Afghan war, according to Sir John Major.

The former Prime Minister has criticised "deficiencies" in the compensation scheme for injured servicemen and women.

"Britain, despite her problems, is still one of the richest countries in the world," he said. "If we cannot afford to care for our wounded with generosity, then we should not expose them to risk. But we do. And in a good cause, we always will."

Sir John is concerned that the "tariff" system for wounded troops does not properly compensate those who suffer life-long injuries, particularly disabling mental conditions.

He highlighted how the maximum payout for a physical injury was £570,000 compared with £48,875 for mental issues.

"As our servicemen and women remain engaged in hostilities, complex combat injuries resulting from multiple physical - and mental - injuries are increasingly common," he writes in the Daily Telegraph today.

"Of course they joined the Armed Forces knowing the risks they faced, but we, as a nation, have our own obligations. I do not believe they are being fully met."

Defence minister Kevan Jones said the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme would be improved if shortcomings were identified in an imminent review.